Miami, FL - Red-hot right-hander Aaron Cook got his third straight win and fourth in five decisions, as the Colorado Rockies downed the Florida Marlins, 6-3, in the first of three games at Dolphin Stadium.
Cook (8-6), coming off a complete-game victory over San Diego on July 25, allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks over 7 2/3 innings. He hasn’t lost since July 8. Manny Corpas pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save this season.
Matt Holliday ended 3-for-4 and scored two runs for the Rockies, who won their third straight game. Garrett Atkins hit a three-run double, and Willy Taveras finished 2-for-4 and scored twice in the win.
Miguel Olivo homered for the Marlins, who have lost seven of their last eight. Florida lefty Scott Olsen (8-9) gave up six runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks over five frames to absorb the loss.
Colorado plated a run in the first when Taveras tripled on the game’s third pitch and came home on Jamey Carroll’s sacrifice fly.
The Rockies added four more runs in the third. Cook walked and Taveras singled before Carroll bunted both baserunners into scoring position. Holliday was intentionally walked for Atkins, whose double to left field cleared the bases. Atkins later scored on an RBI single by Troy Tulowitzki.
The Marlins scored three runs in the home third, sparked by Olivo’s homer to left field on the first pitch of the frame. Alfredo Amezaga then reached on a throwing error by Tulowitzki, and Olsen bunted him over to second. Amezaga next stole third before a Hanley Ramirez walk, and Dan Uggla and Miguel Cabrera both came through with RBI singles.
Colorado tacked on another run in the fifth, as Holliday led off with a double, advanced to third on Atkins’ fly ball, and came home on a Ryan Spilborghs sac fly.
Florida got a runner on third in the eighth, but Uggla struck out swinging to end the inning.
Game Notes
Colorado ended its scoreless-innings drought on the road at 20 in the first…The Rockies have won five straight in Florida…Florida played the Rockies for the first time this season, and is 11-8 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.
